I DO NOT OWN REIGN.

Craigmillar Castle. Edinburgh, Kingdom of Scotland. 4 weeks later.

Unfortunately, I had to ask Mary to postpone my coronation for a couple weeks. I had dispatched Leith to return to France and bring back Princess Claude. I really didn't want to get crowned without them to support me. A week after I'd gotten her first letter, she sent me another one:

My Dear Brother,

I write to you in wretchedness. My life is the purest Hell ever since you left. That woman, (I call her mother no more), tried to poison me because she believes that i killed her precious twin girls. How could she think I would do such a act of evil? Worse then that, I went to father for his aid and...he didn't even know who I was. He took me for a whore and sought to procure my "services". His madness has grown worse since your departure. I fled French court and I am staying at an inn in Paris under the name Aurore Houde. If you have any love in your heart for me, you will let me come to live with you and Mary in Scotland.

Your sister who loves and needs you,

Claude

Now, I'm not going to lie, that letter hit me right in the feels. I felt responsible for leaving Claude to deal with her shitty parents. To be honest, I was only thinking about getting Mary to Scotland and saving her throne, that I hadn't really thought about how Francis leaving would have affected the plot line. I knew that I couldn't just leave Claude when Henry and Catherine were being this deranged.

I immediately sent a letter to Leith in Montrose, pleading with him to go back to France and return with Claude. Luckily, Montrose wasn't as far away as Ross and I got a letter from one of Leith's new servants that said he had left immediately. Now, I have to be honest here: the main reason I sent Leith to get Claude was that I personally shipped them.

After watching Greer spurn him in pursuit of wealth and her own desires time and again, my opinion of her dimmed considerably. Meanwhile, Claude didn't give a shit about station. She would have married Leith in an instant if she could have. But then that pig fucker Narcisse had to kill another example of true love; at least his son Luc was a decent guy. I figured that if Claude and Leith spent enough time together, their feelings would come to the service; just like in the show.

When I explained the situation to Mary, she thankfully agreed that Claude could not stay at French Court and was pleased to bring her to Scottish Court. After Kenna had gone off with Bash to begin her career as the Duchess of Ross, Mary had been lining female companionship. Mary and Claude had never been close on the show, but I was hopeful that maybe they could get closer in this timeline; considering how insanely stubborn they both were.

While I waited for Leith and Claude to return from Paris, there was another arrival to attend to. After weeks of hard riding, I was greeted by the sight of the merchant from Turin entering court; accompanied by the guard I sent.

"Your highness, Mr. David Rizzio from Turin." The guard said as the Italian stepped forward and bowed his head.

"Dauphin." He said with humility as I felt like that title no longer truly belonged to me.

"Mr. Rizzio, I appreciate you coming here." I said with a smile as he looked exactly as he had in the show.

"I must ask though, why summon me?" David inquired curiously. "What use could have for a musically inclined merchant from the Duchy of Savoy?"

"That, Mr. Rizzio, is a matter I would like to discuss in private." I replied as I motioned to the pathway to the outer walls. "Will you walk with me?"

"Of course." David said with a nod as we walked out onto the outer walls of the castle on what was a pleasant enough day.

"I'm going to be King consort of Scotland and I need reliable people around me." I explained as we walked. "I assume you are familiar with my mother: Catherine de' Medici."

"With all due respect, there are very few Italians who are not." He replied with a smirk.

"She knows of you. Your musical skill, your smarts, and your character." I lied as I couldn't tell him how I actually knew him.

"You flatter me, Dauphin." Rizzio said bashfully as I skipped a loose rock along the wall's edge.

"Let me be blunt, Mr. Rizzio, I am offering you a duel position: my personal Secretary and a musician at Scottish court." I declared as David was caught off guard. "I'll offer you seventy five Scottish pounds a year for your services to the crown."

"I would be a fool to refuse such an offer. Why settle working for a Duke when I came be in the service of the King consort of Scotland and Dauphin of France." David said eagerly as I heard footsteps and saw Mary coming up to us.

"Finally tore yourself away from your ministers?" I asked as I went in for a much needed kiss; which Mary happily returned as she ran her fingers through my golden locks.

"I was hoping we could take a walk out in the glade." Mary said as she laid eyes on my new hire. "I'm sorry, we haven't been introduced."

"I forgot, I decide to hire a personal secretary." I said as I motioned for David to present himself. "This is David Rizzio, a merchant from Turin and a fine musician. He comes highly recommended."

"It is a superb honor to be presented to your majesty." Rizzio said with a bow of his head.

"Welcome to Scottish Court, Mr. Rizzio. I trust you'll be a fine addition to it." Mary said with a curtsy and a smile.

"I'll leave you 2 alone." David said as he politely excused himself.

"I hope that it's ok that I hired David. I probably should have asked you beforehand." I admitted sheepishly.

"It's fine, I'm glad that you found someone to help you. A Secretary is an important position and we could use more music around here." Mary said as she linked her arm between mine and we took a nice walk to enjoy the nice Scottish weather.

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